It has an energy density 40% greater than that of ethanol, making it comparable to gasoline (petrol).

It is also chemically stable and, being insoluble in water, does not absorb moisture from the atmosphere.

The ability to efficiently and rapidly produce dimethylfuran from fructose, found in fruit and some root vegetables, or from glucose, which can be derived from starch and cellulose - all widely available in nature - adds to the attraction of dimethylfuran, although safety issues must be examined.

The mechanism involves a Diels-Alder reaction followed by hydrolysis, ultimately leading to diacetylethylene and hydrogen peroxide as products.

The compound also has an appropriate boiling point of 92 °C which prevents evaporative losses, yet is easily removed.

[12] 2,5-Dimethylfuran has been identified as one of the components of cigar smoke with low ciliary toxicity (ability to adversely affect the cilia in the respiratory tract that are responsible for removing foreign particles).